Tape-applying machine



Julie 23, 1931. 1 c RAYNEs 1,811,212

WALL BOARD Filed Sept. 10, 1926 lTz/venztor Patented Oct. 31, 1922.

UNITED STATES 1,434,212 PATENT OFFICE.

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Application fled Ianuary 30, 1918, Serial No. 214,559. Renewed September 18, 1922. Serial! 589018 a To all whom it may co'rwem:

Be it known that we, WALLACE D. KIM- BALL and ARTHUR E. Rmnon'r, both citizens of the United States, and residents, respectively, of the city, county, and State of New York, and Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in Tape-Applying Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to carton machines, and has for its object to provide a machine for facilitating the making of cartons, particularly of the type formed of a sheet of suitabl cut and scored corrugated paper with t e joint formed at the corner by'a stri of gummed paper.

artons of this character have heretofore been made from previously cut and scored blanks by hand, the rocedure being to fold in the two outside aps so that their edges meet along the longitudinal middle line of theflat carton and then secure the meeting edges together by a strip of tape of less length than the carton, leaving the flaps beyond the score lines free to be folded down,

The operation of making cartons is facilitated by using automatic tape-cutting and moistening machines which can be set to deliver as rapidly as desired the pieces of tape cut the proper length and moistened on the gummed surface for immediate application to the carton blanks. The operator cannot,

however, apply the tape with great rapidity to the banks, for the reason that the surface of the corrugated paper is rough, particularly at the edges where the paper has been somewhat compressed by the cutting knife, and the operator has to press the tape carefully over the entire surface to secure the proper adhesion.

The object of the present invention is to provide a machine for facilitating the making of cartons in which the presslng of the tape against the irregular surface of the carton blanks is performed by suitable machinery, whereby the operator has merely to lay the gummed tape at the proper point along the meeting edges of the blank and deliver the blank to the machine which resses the tape securely against the irregu- Far surfaces of the blanks.

In the accompanying drawings we have showlng theoperation of one of t invention, and in said drawin s F1g. 1 is a side elevation g of our improved machine. with the tape-servlng'wmachlne comblned therewith;

1g. 2 1s a plan view of the machine with the tape-servln mechanism removed; m Figs. 3, 4 at?l 5 are sectional views of the ac me on e corres ondin 1 lines of Fig. 2; g y numbered 1*1gs. 6 and 7 are perspective views of the cariton inknock-down and set up condition; an

Fig. 8 is a detail view on an enlar ed scale e stripillustrated a preferred embodiment of our app-lying members.

Referring to the drawings,.1 indicates the frame of the machine having at one end a pro ecting work-table 2 adjacent which the operator stands in running the machine. Supported above the machine adjacent the work-table 1s the strip-serving machine 3 whlch may be of an preferred type such, for instance, as disc osed in U. S. Letters Patent No. 1,271,603, granted to Charles G. Mortimer, July 9, 1918. A common arrangement of such a machine is shown in which a tape roll 40 is provided in an conyement position and the tape 5 is is over Idlers 41 and is kept in motion by two sets of feed rolls 42 and 43, which rolls are operated ntermittently at a predetermined speed directly from the drivin' mechanism of the apparatus. lntermedlate between these sets of rolls is mounted a pair of cooperating knives 44, one of which may be stationary and the other adapted to be intermittentl moved into cutting position. A cam 45 1s preferably provided on one of the feed rolls 42 to intermittently coo rate with the knife and cause the tape to e out successively into strips of equal length. The strips thus cut off from the main body of the tape are projected to the exterior of the machine by means of the rolls 43', while a further length of tape is unwound by means of feed rolls 42 and its end projected on through the knife blades into position between the feed rolls 43. Just after the tape passes between the cutting knives 44 it is moistened by means of a roll 46 working in a tank 47 which contains the moistening fluid. The strip serving mechanism as partly in section 1 shown is a system well known in the art. It

is not essential to the invention that this particular type of strip serving mechanism be employed since any means by which strips 5 of the tape are intermittently projected from the mechanism may be employed. It will be understood, however, that the machine is driven from the electric motor 4 and operates to project at intervals sections of gummed tape as indicated at 5, cut to the proper length for the carton blanks and moistened on the gummed surface so as to be ready for immediate application.

The work table 2 will be of sufficient size to receive the folded carton and at the inner edge of the work table there is provided a pulley 6 around which passes an endless conveyor belt 7 supported at the other end of the frame 1 on a similar pulley 8. The upper reach of the conveyor belt is supported by table 9 in about the same plane as the surface of the work table and the belt is driven in a direction to feed the blanks over the work table through the tape-applying devices.

The conveyor belt is driven from the electric motor 4 through a pulley and reducing gear, as shown in Fig. 1 to give the belt a proper speed to carry off the blanks as rapidly as the operator can fold 1n the flaps and ay the gummed tape over the meeting edges to be secured together. Overlying the belt is a superframe comprising parallel bars 10 supported on cross pieces 11 extending the full width of the table and supported at their outer ends only as indicated at 11 in Fig. 3 to allow the blanks an unobstructed passage through the machine. The frames 10 at their ends adjacent the work table are provided with a series of slots 12 forming bearings for presser rollers 13 whose axles rest loosely in the slots whereby the rollers rest of their own weight on the blanks as they are carried through the machine by the belt. In the machine disclosed we have illustrated five such rollers, but of course thenumber may be varied more or less, as desired. Beyond the fifth roller, bars 10 are formed with vertical bearing guides 14 in which are supported the journal boxes of a shaft 15 of the pressing roller 16 which constitutes a special feature of the invention.

The journal boxes are pressed toward the belt by means of suitable springs to give the desired working pressure and the shaft 15 is driven directly from the electric motor 14 so as to have a peripheral speed greater than the speed of the belt.

The roller 16 as shown in the drawing, is formed of soft fabric similar to that employed by jewelers for their buffing wheels.

form to the irre lar face of thecorru ated paper to ress t e tape into all the in entations in tiie surface and into the depression formed by the pressed edges of the paper as indicated at 18 in Fig. 8, which shows the blank in cross section but at a different point in the machine.

Beyond the presser wheel 16 a second series of rollers 13 is provided, here shown as two in number, and between the rollers there is another pair of bearing guides 19 in which are supported journal boxes for a shaft 20 for a printing roll 17 which may be employed to print upon the tape or upon the face of the carton blank in its passage through the machine. The printing mechanism may or may not be used as desired, and any suitable printing mechanism may be used. We have selected for illustration a mechanism comprising in addition to the type roll 17, an inking roll and fountain 30 and a tri mechanism for causing the operation of t e printing roll on the passage of each blank. The printing roll is flattened as shown in Fig. 1 to allow the blank to pass under the roll when the flat face of the roll is down, without causing the roll to rotate, the circumference of the roll being such that the movement of the blank under its curved surface will rotate the roll and produce an impression on the tape or blank. For bringing the curved surface of the roll into engagement with 'the blank to start its rotation, there is provided a trip arm 31 freely swiveled on the shaft of the type roll and with its end in the path of movement of the leading ends of the blanks as they emerge from under the type roll- The trip arm 31 carries a pawl 32 which works on a ratchet 33 attached to the hub of the type roll. The arran ement is such that the blank in passing un er the arm 31 will lift the arm and through the pawl and ratchet turn the type roll sufiiciently to bring its periphery into engagement with the surface of the blank so that the roll will be rotated by the advancing blank and make its impression on the paper.

Beyond thesecond roll 13 there is a second driven pressing roller 21. This roller is shown as formed of bristles and may be stifier than the roller 16, but nevertheless soft enough to follow the irregularities of the blank surface as shown in Fig. 6, and apply a further firm pressure to the tape. The roll 21 is driven from the shaft 15 of the roll 16 also at a higher speed than the belt.

Beyond the roller 21 there is preferably provided an ironing or drying roller 35 which may be of any approved construction and is here shown as comprising a hollow metal roller supported in spring-pressed journal boxes and heated by means of gas burners on the gas pipe 36 as more fully shown in Fig. 5.

1 corrugated paper.

mag 21a The'roller 35 may run idly or may be osi may be delivered to any desired receiver, for,

instance, the stacking table 22, here shown as of conventional desi and operated by a cam 23 on'the shaft 0 the-conveyor to descend as the blanks are piled upon it. In order that the machine may be readily adapted for blanks of difi'erent sizes we provide an edge guide 24 for the blanks along one side of the machine, the ide consisting of an angle iron mounted or adjustment toward and from the conveyor belt upon parallel links 25, one of which is provided with a locking nut 26 for securing the guide rail at' the desired position of adjustment. The edge of the blank is supported on the horizontal flange of the angle iron and the projectin portions of the blank on each side of the be t may be supported on guide rails 27 to facilitate their passa e'through the machipe.

The operation of t e machine will be readily understood from the above description. The operator has only to properlyposition the tape on the blank and start the blank into the machine. presses the blank against the paper and causes it to adhere to the most elevated surfaces of the corrugated paper, thereby securing sufficient adhesion between the tape and the blank for the tape not to be dislodged by the rapidly revolving roller 16. This roller, by reason of its rapid revolution, has a wiping action against thetape and presses it down into all the depressions 1n the face of the corrugated paper.

After leaving the roller 16 the advanolng blank is held in contact with the belt by the second series of rollers 13 which guide the blank under the printing roll and direct it to the revolving roller 21 which presses the tape firmly against the irregular face of the As the tape has been pressed into contact with the surface of the carton throughout its area by the soft buffing wheel, it is not liable to be torn by the brush and a firm adhesion can be secured. With our improved machine the operator can fold the carton flaps and apply the tape are rapidly as delivered by the automatic machine, thereby greatly increasing the output for each operator and also lowering the manufacturing cost of the cartons. Further.

the machine secures a more uniform application of the tape to the box than can be The first set of rollers 13 secured exce t by experienced labor, and as the mere fo ding ofthe flaps and placing of the ta e in position thereon requires little or .no skill, cartons of good quality can be made by very chea labor. a 1

We have described the tape delivering ma- [chine as a'machine for'moisteninggummed tape, but it is obvious that plain or ungummed tape may be used and adhesive a plied to the surface instead of water. e

76 afiixing machine may also be employed without the tape-delivering attachment if desired to afiix and dry tape appliedby hand or otherwise, or to secure a firm adhesion of a simple lapped joint." 7

' We have described the first ressing wheel I as a cloth bufling wheel and t e second asa' brush, and this combination has been found to give very satisfactory results in actual practice, but we may use instead two bufiing wheels or two brushes with good results. The second presser may with advantage be stifi'er than the first. for the ta e is more securely adhered to the blank when it reaches the second presser, and it will stand a more vi orous wiping without displacement.

twill be understood also that the print- "ing and ironing devices may be dis ensed p with if desired, and other changes in the structure disclosed made without departing from the spirit of our invention.

We claim- 1. In a machine for gumming strips to articles, the combination of means for advancing the articles with the strips positioned thereon, a rotary wiper having a yielding surf-ace .positioned to engage the strips as advanced by said means, and means for operating said wiper at greater peripheral speed than the said advancing means and in the same direction.

2. In a machine for gumming strips to anticles, the combination. for advancing the articles with the strips positioned thereon, a plurality of rotary wipers having yielding surfaces positioned to en-' gage the strips as advanced by said means, and means for operating said wipers at greater peripheral speed than the said advancing means, said wipers operating successively with the first wiper softer than the I following wiper.

3. In a machine for gummiing strips to articles, the combination of means for advancing the articles with the strips positioned thereon, a rotary wiper having a yielding surface positioned to engage the strips as advanced by said means, means for operating said wiper at greater peripheral speed than the said advancing means and in the same direction, and means cooperating with said advancing means for holding said articles against movement by said wiping means.

4. In a machine of the class described, the

combination of means for advancing an article, means for pressing a strip against said article to effect its adhesion thereto, and means for wiping said strip into Smboth engagement with the surface of said article, said wiping means comprising a rotar'y member having a yielding periphery and means for rotating said member at a a greater peripheral speed than said advancing means and in the same direction.

5. In a machine of the class described, the combination of means for advancing an article, means for pressing a strip against said article to effect its adhesion thereto and means for wiping said strip into smooth engagement with the surface of said article, said wiping means comprising a rotary member having a yielding periphery and means for rotating said member at a greater peripheral speed than said advancing means, and a second rotary member having a yielding surface not so soft as that of the first member and means for rotating said second member at a greater peripheral speed than said advancing means.

6. In a machine of the class described, the combination of means for advancing an article, means for pressing a strip against said article to effect its adhesion thereto, means for wiping said strip into smooth engagement with the surface of said article, said wiping means comprising a rotary member having a yielding periphery and means for rotating said member at a greater peripheral speed than said advancing means, a second rotary member having a yielding surface not so soft as that of the first member and means for rotating said second member at a greater peripheral speed than said advancing means, and pressing rollers engaging said strip intermediate said rotary members.

7. In a machine of the class described, the combination of means for moistening and cutting off a length of gummed tape and means for pressing the tape against an article comprising means for advancing the article, pressing rollers engaging the tape, a rotary pressing member having a yielding surface, and means for rotating the memher at a greater peripheral speed than the advancing means.

8. In a machine for gumming a strip to an article, the combination of means for advancing the article, and means for pressing the strip against the article as it advances comprising a bufling wheel and means for rotating the wheel at a greater speed than the speed of the advancing means and in the same-direction.

9. In a machine for mining a strip to an article, the combinatlon of means for advancing the article and means for pressing the strip against the article as it advances comprising a rotary brush, and means for rotating the brush at a greater speed than the speed of the advancing means and in the same direction.

10. In a machine for g'umming a strip to an article, the combination of means for advancing the article and means for pressing the strip against the article comprising a bufiing wheel mounted to engage the strip as said article is advanced, a rotary brush mounted to engage said strip as said article is advanced beyond said bufling wheel, and means for rotating said wheel and brush at greater peripheral speeds than the speed of said advancing means.

11. In a machine of the class described, means for securing the adhesion of a gummed joint between a fabric and an article comprising means for advancing the article with the gummed faces to be JOlIlGd'lIl contact and a yielding presser having its pressing surface moving at a speed in excess of the speed of the advancing article and in the same direction to effect a'wiping action on the fabric.

12. In a machine of the class described, means for securing adhesion of a gummed joint between a fabric and an article having an irregular surface comprising means for advancing the article with the gummed surfaces to be secured in contact, pressing rollers arranged to press the faces together as the article is advanced, a wiping roller having a yielding periphery, means for driving said roller at a greater speed than the article, means for further pressing the joint and a second Wiper having a yielding surface designed to conform to the irregular face of the article to secure the adhesion of the entire area of the joined surfaces.

.13. In a machine of the class described, means for securing the adhesion of a gummed joint between a fabric and an article comprising means for advancing the article with the gummed faces to be joined in contact, means for pressing the joint as it is advanced, a yielding presser having a surface movement in excess of the speed of the advancing article to effect a wiping action on the fabric, and means for printing upon the article as it is advanced.

14. In a machine of the class described, means for securing the adhesion of a gummed joint between a fabric and an article comprising means for advancing the article with the gummed faces to be joined in contact, means for pressing the joint as it is advanced, a yielding presser having a surface movement in excess of the speed of the advancing article to efiect a wiping action on the fabric, and means for drying the joint as the blank is advanced out of the machine.

15. In a machine of the class described, the combination of means for moistenin and cutting off a length of gummed tape an rotary pressing member having a yielding surface positioned to engage the strip as advanced by said means, and means for rotating said member at a greater peripheral speed than the advancing means and in the same direction.

Signed at New York city, in the county 10 of New York and State of New York this 5th day of Dec., 1917.

WALLACE D. KIMBALL.

Signed at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, this 20 day of Nov.,

ARTHUR E. RIDEOUT. 

